Coupling device



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F. A. GRBER, JR

COUPLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Filed Senat. l1 1920 wila/woo Lma@ F.A. GRIER, JR

COUPLING DEVICE i 'Filed sem. 11. 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1923.

Patented Dec, lll, i923.

ietwat@ FREDERICK A. @Et-IER, JR., F Si'iLSBURY, MARYLAND;

COUPLNG DEVICE.

Application filed September 11, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatv l, Fnnnnnion A. Grunn, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing'g.; at Salisbury, inthe county of Wicomico and tate ofMaryland, have invented new and useful improvements inCouplingvDei/ices, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a coupling device of .general application,lbut primarily intended as a means ffor quickly attachinga lire hose to ahydrant.

My invention provides a coupling. which may be used with hydrantconnections of different sizes so that hose equipment may be yutilizedwithout experiencing any di'lliculty from this source.

My invention also pro Yidesmeans for positively locking parts of thecoupling device from relative movement thereby maintainingthe bindingaction ofthe same on the threaded connection of the hydrant.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent on referenceto'thefollowing speciiication and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectionvof the coupling. deviceas, applied to the threaded connection of a firehydrant.

Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe cou'- pling member;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vrotatable collar showing theratchet canadevices.

Figure i is an end view of the socket portion of the coupling memberwith the retaining plate removed.

Figure 5 is a sectionall View through the socket member and rotatablecollar showing the ratchet cams and sliding blocks in engaging relation.

Like, numerals represent .corresponding parts.'throughout the several.views of the drawings.

The numeral designates a fire hydrant having the usual threadedvconnection 11 adapted to engage with the threads of a socket of a hoseconnection. The device comprising my invention consists of a couplingmember 12 having a threadedboss or male member 13 which lis adaptedtoengage the threaded connection of ya lire hose shown in dotted lines14, Figure 1. The coupling m1nber112 is provided with an enlargedannular socket portion 15 having radial openings lvformed therein and ashere- Serial No. 405,516.

in shown four of. these openings are employed, spaced 90 apart.

Blocks 17 are slidably mounted in these openings, said blocks having attheir inner terminals screw threads 18 adapted to en-l gagethe screwconnection 11,v and at-thel outer terminals said blocks are providedwith ratchet teeth. .19 for a purpose ywhich will hereinafter appear.The outer periphery of the socket portion 15 adjacent the openings 1G isprovided with recesses 20 of ta.- per'ng depth, which recesses provideclearance spaces for the wire springs 21 each of which engages at oneend within an aperture 22 formed near the ratchet end of a sliding'block 17 and at the other endin an aperture 23formed at the terminal ofthe shallow end of cach of the tapered. recesses 20. The socket portion15 is yprovided at opposite sides with reducedportions 211 .and25forming annular shoulders adapted to lreceive respectively a viti-angel26 of acollar 27 .and the inner circumferential edge of an annular cover28.

The collar 27 is providedy with an annular portion the inner peripheryof which is nor mally spaced from the outer v*periphery of the socket 15in such relation that the threaded ends of the sliding blocks arenormally maintained flush with the inner ircumferenceof the socket '15and the springs 21 are thereby maintained under slight tension. Aplurality of projecting elements are formed on theinner surface of thecollar 27 and each of these elements is provided with a cam surface 30on which are formed ratchet teeth 31 for engaging with the terminalratchet teeth ofthe sliding blocks. As yherein sho-wn the cani elementsare four in number, corresponding to the number of sliding blocks, andthe small end of each of the cam surfaces isv in spaced relation lto thelarger end of the next adjacent and in this space the ratchet terminalsof the sliding blocks are normally maintainedrby the action of thesprings-21. It will be noted-thatfthe collar 27 -is rotatably mounted onthe .socket portion 15 so that when it is turnedin the proper directionthe ratchet teeth 30 lwill pass -over-the-ratchet teeth 19 and the camsurface 30 .will forcothe. sliding blocks inwardly, where the engagingrelation between Vsaid ratchet teeth willA prevent relative movementbetween the collar and coupling member tending to release said blocksfrom their inward position.

Fastening devices such as screws 32V are adapted to detachably securethe cover 28 to the collar 27 thus enclosing the operative parts andprotecting the same from the accumulation of dust and dirt, which mayinterfere with their proper functioning.

The threaded boss 13 is of courseof smaller diameter than the socketportion 12 and the shoulderV 33 formed therebetween is adapted toreceive a washer 34 which is preferably of yielding material such asrubber or liber vand when the coupling device is in operative positionthe washer 34 abuts against v the end of the connection 11 of the firehydrant.

In operation the coupling member 12 is placed on the lire hydrant untilthe washer 34 abuts against the end of the connection 11 which can beaccomplished without any screwing action by having the sliding blocks 16in their normal position in which case their effective diameter isgreater than that of the connection 11. With the coupling member in thisposition, the collar 2T is rotated and since further longitudinalmovement of the coupling member will meet with the resistance affordedby the compression of the washer 34, the sliding block 17 will be forcedinto firm engagement with the threads of the connection 11 and thecoupling will be advanced slightly by means of this screw threadedconnection thereby placing the washer i4-"under tight compression andalso forcing the threaded ends of blocks 17 ,into engagement with acorresponding radial force. rlhe ratchet. teeth 19 engagingwith theratchet teeth 31 will prevent any retrograde movement of the collarrelative to the coupling member and thereby maintain the same in firmengagement with the pipe .connection 11. rl`he cooperating ratchet`teeth also perform an important office irl-assisting the release of thecoupling frein the fire hydrant. lt will be understood that when thecoupling is in tight engagement with the hydrant, the reactive force ofthe washer 34, resisting compression, is transmitted through the parts,causing a close frictional pressure between the outside faces of thethreads on the inner end of the blocks and the adjacent faces of thethreads on the fire hydrant. ln the absence of positive interengagingmeans on the outer ends of the blocks and on the cams, it is expectablethat the frictional hold between the aggregate surface of the threadswill exceed that between the cam and blocks, sothat upon initialreleasing movement of the collar 27, the latter will move relatively tosaid blocks, leaving the latter unmoved, in the fully engaged positionof the parts. By the provision of the ratchet teeth 19 and 31, theinterengaging abrupt shoulders thereof positively interlock, enforcingmovement of the blocks with said collar along the threads of the firehydrant in the direction of release, immediately relieving the pressureof the washer 34 and thereby rendering easy the subsequent unscrewingoperation of the coupling from the fire hydrant.

'it will be understood that the embodiment of the invention shown inthis application is illustrative only and that l do not confine myselfto the details of construction and arrangement of parts herein shown anddescribed, in carrying out my invention, the scope of which is indicatedby the appended claims. 1

Having describedy my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. 1n a device of the class described, a coupling member having openingsin the walls thereof, blocks slidably mounted in said openings havingscrew threads at one end and rratchet teeth at the other end, springmeans tending to force said blocks in one direction, a collar rotatablymounted on said member, elements projecting from said collar having camsurfaces, said cam surfaces having ratchet teeth thereon adapted tocoact with the ratchet teeth of said blocks whereby on rotation of saidcollar in one direction said blocks are forced in a direction opposed tosaid spring means and upon rotation in the opposite direction, saidcollar and bloclrsare positively locked against relative movementenforcing movement of said blocks with said collar.

2. In a device of the class described, a coupling member, a collarrotatably mounted thereon, blocks slidably mounted in said couplingmember having screw threads on one endand ratchet teeth on the other endthereof, and means carried by said collar formoving said blocks radiallywhen said collar is rotated in one direction relatively to said memberand when rotated in the other direction locking said collar and blocksagainst relative movement, enforcing movement of said blocks with saidcollar.

3. 'in a device of the class described, sliding blocks having ratchetteeth at one end and screw threads at the other end, and ratchet camsmovable relatively to said blocks in' one direction for forcing saidscrew threads into firm engagement with a pipe connection said ratchetcams engaging the ratchet teeth of said blocks to lock said cams andbloclrs against relative movement when said cams are moved in theopposite direction, whereby to enforce movement of said blocks with saidcollar.

4. ln' a device of the class described, sliding blocks having ratchetteeth at one endv and screw threads at the otherend thereof and camshaving ratchet teeth cooperable with the teeth on said blocks.

5. ln a device of the class described, a coupling member having radialopenings formed therein, a collar rotatably mounted thereon, blocksslidably mounted in Said openings, spring` means for normallymaintaining` said blocks in retracted position, cam elements projectingfrom the inner surface of said collar adapted to engage and force saidblocks radially inward When moved in one direction, and cooperatingmeans on said cam elements and blocks for positively locking` saidblocks and cam elements against relative movement when said cam elementsare'moved in the other direction, whereby to enforce movement of said 15blocks with said cam elements.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK A. GRIER, JR.

Witnesses:

HOWARD H. RUARK, Roxm PUSEY.

